One-man top for automobiles.



.A. W. CURTIS.

oNEJwAN 10P FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. 1916.

Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

ru: nomas russa co. vwlmu summa-v ALMON W. CURTIS, OF CORTLAND, NEW YORK.

ONE-MAN' TOP FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4l, 1919.

Application filed February 21, 1916. Serial N o. 79,649.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, ALMON W. CURTIS, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Cortland, in the county of Cortland, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oriel/Ian Tops for Automobiles, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to `certain improvements in one-man tops for automobiles, and refers more particularly to the structure of the bows proper, as distinguished from the sockets, and to the means for attaching the ends of the bows to said sockets or totheir supporting braces.

The bows now in common use are made of wood, and aside from the fact that it is necessary to make them of relatively large cross sectional area in order to give the desired strength, they must be made of selected quality to permit them to be milled and bent to the required form and size, and it frequently happens that the imperfections will not develop until after the bows have been practically finished so that a considerable percentage of the total output are unfit for use and must be thrown aside as waste at a considerable loss to the manufacturer.

Furthermore, the ends of the wooden bows must be finished Vor milled with great accuracy in order to fit closely in the tapering sockets into which they are tightly driven with the further requirement that considerable care must be taken to properly adjust the bows in the sockets to support the top symmetrically, and at the desired height, all

of which entails considerable trouble and exense. p It is also customary-to cover these wooden bows with fabric sheaths which are usually made up in the form of tubes of the required size and then drawn over and upon the bows, and in many instances owing to the lack of uniformity in the size of the bows and fabric tubes, the latter are frequently ripped or torn in the operation of drawing them on the bows, the mutilated sheaths being usually thrown away, resulting in additional loss to the manufacturer, the sheath being usually of such color as to conform to the linings of the top.

These losses are considerably increased by the fact that it is extremely difficult to obtain the desired quality of wood, and one of the main objects of my present invention is to obviate such difficulties and losses by providing tubular metal bows with relatively shallow lengthwise channels opening through the upper faces thereof for receiving relatively narrow strips of wood or equivalent material capable of receiving tacks or similar fastening devices by which the lining of the top is secured to the bows.

Another object is to obviate the necessity for the sockets which support the front portion of the top by providing less bulky substitute supports therefor and to construct such substitute supports in such manner as to enable the top to be clashed or dropped into a more compact space than has heretofore been practicable.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the device will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a one-man top embodying the various features of my invention, shown by full lines as extended for use, and by dotted lines as clashed or dropped.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 2 2, Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the adjacent ends of the bow and socket taken in the' plane of line 3 3, Fig. 2, and showing more particularly the coupling between the bow and socket.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of one of the detached couplings.

Fig. 5 is anenlarged longitudinal sectional view through the adjacent ends of the front bow and one of its supporting braces, taken on line 5 5, Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 of a modified form of bow, showing in end elevation the coupling for attaching the same to the socket.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the bow section showing the manner of fastening the top thereto.

As illustrated, the top comprises a flexible covering A and a plurality of, in this instance four, supports therefor comprising a main center support 1 a rear support -2-, a front support -3- and an intermediate support --l, all of which are provided with arched or U-shapedbow sections of similar construction, hereinafter described, and arranged to support the fabric covering A# at suitable intervals throughout its length and to impart the desired shape thereto when adjusted for use.

The ends of the bows -5- of the main support 1 and rear support are connected by couplings -6- to suitable brace sockets -7 and -8-, while the ends of the front and intermediate bows -5- of the supports -8- and 4: #are telescopically connected with suitable braces -9-- and -10-, which, in turn, are pivotally connected in a manner presently described to corresponding brace bars -l1, the latter being pivoted at -12- to the main socket braces -7- at points slightly above the lower edges of the side quarters, as -aof" the cover -A- so that the braces -9, -10-'and -11- will be concealed from external View when the top is adjusted for use.

The main socket braces -7- are pivoted at -13- to suitable supports on the side of the top just back of the entrance to the rear seat, while the socket braces 8 are pivoted at lllto rearwardly projecting lugs on the lower ends of the socket braces -7*- so that the sockets -7- and -8- at the same side of the top will lie in substantially the saine longitudinal vertical plane, the lengths of the main support -1- and rear support -2-, of which the sockets 7- and -8- form a part, being suiicient to al low the top -A- to clash or fold beyond the rear end of the body, as -B- indicated by dotted lines.

The rear ends of the brace bars -11- are preferably pivoted to the inner side of the main socket braces -7- and are of slightly less` length than the distance between the pivots l2- and -13- so as to permit them to fold or clash inside of the main sockets -7- when the top is lowered lto the position shown by dotted lines.

The brace bars w9- and -V-llat the same side of the top are pivoted to each other at -15-, thus forming a toggle joint,

the pivots wl5 for both sets of braces be- Ving disposed above the horizontal plane of a direct line drawn between the pivots l2- and points of attachment of the Vfront end of the covering A- with the corresponding edge of the front support -3-- when the top is adjusted for use so as to produce toggle locks for holding theV top in its extended position, the adjacent ends of the'connected bars -9- and W11 being provided with stop shoulders #-16- to limit the upward movement of the toggle joint.

The brace bars -10- are. pivoted at 17,-- to their respective vbars -l1- intermediate the ends thereof so as to cause the corresponding support -4- to properly clash with the other supports when the top is let down. Y

The manner of connecting the brace bars depends somewhat upon the number of cover supports used, and inasmuch as such num ber varies in accordance with the length of the top, the exact manner of connection is immaterial so long as they permit the cover supports to be properly clashed and eX- tended.

The particular features of the invention, therefore, reside in the peculiar structure of each of the bow sockets ,-5- and their connections with the sockets -7- and -8 or brace bars -9- and -10, and also the manner of connecting the bars 1l-f to the socket braces -7- so that the bars --11-Y U-sliaped longitudinally and having its j outer side depressed inwardly to form a lengthwise channel -19- for receiving and retaining a relatively narrow strip -20- of wood or other comparatively inexpensive material capable of receiving tacks or nails by which the cover or the lining thereof may be secured thereto, the opposite longitudinal edges of the strip being engaged along the inner wall of the channel to complete the tubular formation of the metalscction of the bow.

In the preferred form of bow section shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the outer edge of the metal tube 18" is compressed or ieduced in width while the central depressed portion of the outer portion thereof form-V ing the channel -19- is of considerably less depth than the total corresponding depth of the entire bar or bow, thus forming a lengthwise chamber -21- to decrease the weight of the bow without sacrificing its strength, the depressed portion, Yas '-22-, at the inner side of the channel, serving as a seat for the wooden strip and also to clench or deflect the points of the tacks or nails used in fastening the covering to the wooden strip, as shown in Fig. 7. Y

After the wooden strip or strips +20- are kinserted in the channel -19-, the op posite sides of the tube are tightly coinpressed againstttli'e adjacent sides of the wood to retain the samein operative posi but if necessary these strips may be re'- tained by pins *23epassing therethrough and through opposite sides of the tube, as shown in F ig. 2.

The couplings -6- for clamping the ends of the bow -5- to their corresponding sockets, as -7- and -8, are each provided with a lengthwise tapered portion 24fof substantially the same cross sectional form and size as the interior of the larger open end of the socket so as to fit tightly therein with a Wedge fit, leaving a relatively shorter portion of the coupling protruding bey-ond the open end of the socket for receiving the adjacent end of the tubular section of the bow -5-, the outer end of said coupling being provided with a shoulder -25- adapted to abut against the corresponding end of the socket for limiting the telesco-ping movement of the socket and coupling relatively to each other.

The protruding end of the coupling is gradually reduced in cross sectional size toward' its free end and is provided with a lengthwise opening Q6- of substantially the same cross sectional form and size as the tube 18s- .The coupling is preferably hollow from end to end and is divided longitudinally through diametrically opposite sides to form opposite clamping sections, the meeting edges at one side being provided, respectively, with a V-shape groove 1272- and a V-shape rib 728esubstantially midway between the ends for interlocking engagement with each other Ito prevent relative endwise movement of the sections when the coupling is being inserted into the socket, by which action the coupling sections are tightly drawn against the interposed portion of the bow tube -18-, thus frictionally locking the coupling tothe socket and' also to the bow.

In some instances, however, it may be necessary to use extra fastening means, such as brazing or soldering, for securing the coupling `to the bow and also to the socket, which may be done without departing from the spirit of my invention, the purpose being to couple the ends of the tubular bow to 'the sockets in as simple a manner as possible, and at the same time to produce a neat and trim connection without cumbersome or unsightly projections.

The frictional grip of the head of each coupling upon the tubular bow is materially increased by extending the solid portion of the head a `short distance into the open end of the socket, while the walls of fthe remaining portion of the socket are comparatively thin and, therefore, more yielding than the solid portions of the head, so that when the open end of the socket encounters the solid tportions of .the head during the insertion of the coupling into the socket, it will tend'to force said solid portion more tightly against the tube "-18, it being understood that suiiicient clearance is left between the mee'ting edges of the coupling sections to allow them to impinge tightly against the adjacent ends of the tubular bow,

The brace bars -9-'-, -10 and -llare preferably `solid and somewhat flat or slightly elongated in cross section and are arranged edgewise vertically, thus permitting them to be made of very much smaller size than the sockets usually employed for receiving the bow sections -5-, whereby the entire top may be clashed or folded into a more compact space than would be the case if the ordinary sockets were used for supporting the front and intermediate bows.

11n the use of these bow-supporting braces 85 -'-9-- and -l0-, the latter are provided with extensions -29- of substantially the same cross sectional size and form as the chamber 21- in the tubular bow -18 and are inserted into said chambers and secured therein by rivets -30-, the portion of each brace at the base of the extension -2'9- being provided with stop shoulders -31 for limiting the telescopic move ment of the tubular bow and brace relatively to each other.

This manner of assembling either of the bows -5- upon their respective braces -9-- or -l0- leaves the ends olf the wooden strips -20* wholly at one side of 100 the extension "-29 with the portion -22- of the tube at the base of the `channel and inner side of the tube in close contact with the corresponding' sides of the extension -29- for firmly locking the braces and 105 ends of the bow against relative lateral movement. Y`

The metal tube shown in Fig. 6 is some- .what similar to that Shown in F ig. 2, ex-

cept that its outer edges at opposite sides of the channel in which the wooden strip n20- is placed are not pressed inwardly. The front bow -5 may be supported upon the wind shield or other suitable support by any well known means not necessary to herein illustrate or describe for the reason that such fastening means forms no part of my present invention.

By making the bows of separate strips of sheet metal, the bearing faces for receiving and supporting the cover may be readily bent to any angle relatively to the direction of extension of the supporting braces, thus always affording a fiat bearing surface with the wooden filler adjacent such covering for receiving the tacks by which the cover is secured to the bow, such a condition being practically impossible in the use of wooden bows which require considerable labor in beveling or chamfering the edges to form a sufficient bearing for the top, particularly in the front, intermediate and rear bows or in any otherl bow which is not capable 0f being disposed at substantially right angles to the plane of the covering.

Furthermore, by making the metal bows separate from their supporting braces, it is possible to manufacture such bows in standard sizes more conveniently than would be possible if the bows and their supporting braces were all made in one piece which would be practically prohibitive in most of factories lby reason of the large space which would be required for forming, while on the other hand, this bow with the coupling may be used in connection with any of the standard forms of sockets.

In practice, the length of the bows is slightly less than the transverse width of the covering including the side quarters so that the joints between the bows and their supporting braces are concealed from external view when the top is adjusted for use.

The web e22 of the tubular bow not only serves to clench the tacks or nails into the filler 20- but also serves to reinforce or stiffen the bow against buckling.

Another important advantage of the tubular metal bows isfthat they may be made of uniform size and shape without liability of warping or otherwise deforming, thereby avoiding excessive waste of time and labor in refitting so common in the use of wooden bows, and, furthermore, these bows may be painted, enameled or japanned in color to harmonize with the color of the top or lining, thus obviating the necessity for sheaths or coverings of fabric also commonly used for wooden bows.

What I claim is:

1. In a folding vehicle top, a cover-supporting bow consisting of a sheet metal tube having a channel in its outer face and a transverse wall forming the base of vthe channel and'spaced apart from the inner wall of the tube, and a wooden filler seated in said channel.

2. In a folding vehicle top, a cover-supporting bow consisting of a sheet metal tube having a channel in its outer face and a transverse wall forming the base of the channel and spaced apart from the inner wall of the tube Yand a wooden ller seated in said channel, the outer edges of the side walls of said channel being slightly contracted to retain the wooden filler therein.

3. In a folding top for-vehicles, Vthe combination of a pair of tubular braces, a separate tubular sheet metal bow section spanning the distance between the braces and provided with a lengthwise channel in its outer face extending fromend to end thereof and forming a wall at the base of the channel spaced from the inner wall ofthe tube, a wood ller fitted within and extending from end t0 end of said channel, and couplings connecting the ends of the bow to corresponding ends of the braces.

4:. In a folding top for vehicles, the combination of a pair of socketed braces, a separate sheet metal bow section having its ends registered with the sockets in the braces, said bow section being provided with arlengthwise channel in its outer face eX- e tending from end to end thereof, longitudinally split couplings having tapered ends fitted in said sockets and their outer ends embracing the adjacent ends of the bow section, and a wood filler fitted within the channel of the bow section and extending from end to end thereof.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of February, 1916.

ALMoN w. CURTIS.

Witnesses Y H. E. CHASE, ALICE M. CeNNON.V

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Y Washington, D. C. 

